Being prepared is different than being 'used to' natural disasters

Different areas of the United States must account for different types of storms and natural disasters. While Florida braces for hurricanes, the Midwest has to buckle down for tornado season. However, for small- to medium-sized business owners, simply having an idea of what might come their way is not the same as actually preparing for it.

California residents were reminded of what can happen in their area on Monday morning of this week, when a 4.7 magnitude earthquake rippled across the southern part of the state. It was the largest quake to hit the Los Angeles region in three years, according to the Los Angeles Times, and has produced more than 100 aftershocks.

Monday's quake happened along the San Jacinto Fault Zone, which runs through San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties roughly parallel to the San Andreas Fault.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seismologist Robert Graves told The Times that the area is capable of generating moderate to large earthquakes, and that what happened on Monday is nothing out of the ordinary.

He added that the fault zone has generated eight earthquakes of magnitude 6 or larger in the last century. While the latest quake did not cause any major damage or serious injuries, seismologists reported that it took place over a rather large area.

"It's a good idea to take it to heart and make sure you're prepared," Graves said. "We live in Southern California, and we have lots of active faults; and every once in awhile, it's large enough to cause damage."

It is important for business owners to check that their current insurance policies will cover for common storms that can go through their company's location. Whether it's Nevada or California business insurance that is needed, working commercial insurance specialists can help organization heads find the right coverage for their business.